Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Wood Group hires Moore as third CFO this year
John Wood Group has appointed Jade Moore as group chief financial officer with immediate effect, replacing interim CFO Iain Torrens who stepped up to CEO after the company’s shareholders backed its acquisition by Sidara.
Ms Moore will be the Aberdeen-based company’s third chief financial officer this year following the sudden resignation in February of Arvind Balan.
Based in London, Ms Moore served as group executive director at ED&F Man Holdings, where she co-led the organisation through a period of record performance. Her earlier career includes senior leadership roles at Stemcor, EMI Group, and Terra Firma Capital Partners.
Jamie Laing's Candy Kittens to acquire UK snack brand Graze
The vegan sweet business co-founded by Jamie Laing, the reality television star, is set to acquire the snacks brand Graze as part of a £36million deal between Unilever and the sweet company’s German owners.
Unilever has struck a deal with Katjes International, which holds a majority stake in Candy Kittens, a confectionery seller set up by Laing, 37, and Ed Williams in 2012.
The FTSE 100 consumer goods group, home to brands including Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Dove soap, is looking to shed underperforming labels to focus on its core beauty and personal care divisions as part of a restructuring under its chief executive Fernando Fernández.
Gary Lineker nets multimillion Netflix World Cup podcast deal
Gary Lineker has signed a multi-million pound deal with Netflix to present his The Rest Is Football podcast at the World Cup in North America next year, according to reports.
The contract with the streaming service is believed to dwarf the £1.35million salary he earned for hosting Match of the Day on the BBC.
During the tournament, Lineker, 64, will host the podcast everyday, instead of its current three times a week, with contributions from his co-presenters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, according to The Sun.
Car-sharing company ZipCar to end UK operations
Car-sharing platform Zipcar has said it is to close its UK operations by the end of the year.
The US-based company, which is owned by car rental giant Avis Budget, told customers it would temporarily suspend new bookings after 31 December, pending the outcome of a consultation with its 71 staff members.
In an email to members, UK boss James Taylor said the firm had launched a formal consultation with employees and bookings due to finish by the end of the month were being honoured.
Doctors to stage five-day strike before Christmas
The British Medical Association has announced a fresh round of strikes in England in the long-running pay dispute.
Resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, will stage a five-day walkout from 17 December.
This will be the 14th strike by the doctors' union since March 2023 and is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals.